Questioning DRC

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Hoping for some good info here-

I recently commented on a post on a social media group for local doodle owners and a response has left me a little concerned. The group helps organize local doodle romps/playdates and at the most recent romp, they did some fundraising to donate to a rescue. The post was asking for recommendations of different organizations to possibly donate the money to and I commented recommending Doodle Rescue Collective, Inc. After commenting, one of the members replied stating that DRC has not been a 501c3 since 2015 when the IRS revoked their status. I was shaken by this and thought back to my annual fundraiser "pawty" I throw to raise money for DRC and remembered how I was never able to get any sort of communication with any of the DRC administrative members that I reached out to, specifically in reference to nonprofit info to provide to some of our donating companies.

As much as I hate to say it, this information has now made me a little skeptical about DRC and makes me feel a little uneasy about whether I should have been sending all of those donations to them over the past few years. I love to support a good cause, but now I am wondering if I was actually sending all of that money to a legitimate organization. I don't know very much about how the nonprofit world operates, but I believe all of the nonprofit organizations I know of and have supported in the past hold this status and the DRC website even states on the homepage that it is a 501c3, which I am now led to believe is false.

Thanks for any info you can give me!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

DRC is a legitimate rescue group. They fell behind on their tax reporting back in 2015 and that's the reason that the 501c3 status(which they did have for many years prior to that) was suspended. 

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Even though I trust that that is true, how am I supposed to convince other people to donate to them if they do not have that in order? Mostly playing devil's advocate, but I do feel that their credibility is lost a bit with this lapse. Do you know if there is any plan to regain the 501c3 status?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm told that it is. 

There really is no way to convince others to donate to any charitable group. I think that most people who donate to DRC do so because they have seen first hand the good work they do, following the stories of various doodles who have had truly horrendous issues and have been saved, vetted, trained, cared for, and placed in loving homes. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm just going to put this out there because it has been bothering me for a long time.  I don't care whether they are 5013c authorized or not.  I don't itemize my taxes so I can't claim it anyway.  Even if I could I wouldn't do it for the deduction.  To me it is all about the doodles and not the deduction.  HOWEVER, IMO it is totally wrong to not be upfront about this. Showing the organization as a  5013c on their website,  when in fact they do not have this status could get others in trouble on their taxes.  I too have been called out on other websites when I've tried getting help for various doodles.   I was told probably over a year ago now that it had been taken care of and would be retroactive and it still isn't fixed.   It needs to be fixed, and it needs removed from the website until it is.   I'm off my soapbox now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree. Maybe it's all up and up and if so fix it.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

You can deduct on taxes contributions to non-profits even if they don't have 501(c)-3 status.  It just makes it a harder defense IF you are audited.  If you don't itemize, this is moot.

Falling behind in tax-filing is often innocuous, but at the same time the IRS can assume it's something serious.  If they really only fell behind, they should be able to catch-up and regain the 501(c)-3.

From an audit standpoint, it's probably safer to deduct a contribution to an organization that never filed for 501(c)-3 than one that did, got approved, and then lost it.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

First I would like to apologize to all who feel they were not given explanation for DRCs current 501 status . Those who know us and the organization, some more intimately than others, are and have been aware of the reasons and what has been done and is being done to rectify the situation.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding throughout the process and are grateful to all who have stood by us and continue to support DRC and our rescue efforts throughout the years. 

DRC went into "auto-revoke" when we missed our deadline for submission of paperwork to the IRS. The reasons we missed that deadline are legitimate and without going into specifics on social media, prevented us from being able to meet those deadlines.

There is no "fraud" here ..... Revocation was automatic and can and will be retroactively reversed. We were and are, in constant contact with the IRS  about the entire situation as we movie forward towards reinstatement, fulfilling our responsibilities and requirements. and putting things in place to ensure that something like this never happens again.

Things just take time to process.

In the meantime, I am personally taking measures to remove the 501 status from our website until the time it is officially reinstated. Please know, it was not removed because it involves a lengthy process to remove from all graphics and we did not expect the reinstatement process to take as long as it is taking. 

If you require more reassurances and/or detailed explanation, please feel free to reach out to us. [e-mail] or you can reach me directly at [e-mail]. If you would like to include your phone number, I would be happy to call you back personally.

Again, I want to assure you there is no fraud... Our status was auto-revoked because we owed paperwork which has since been submitted.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Yup, I am on the Board of a 501(c)-3 and reinstatement should happen once required papers are submitted.

Good Job !!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Thanks, Jacquie! I appreciate the clarification! I have and will continue to support DRC in any way that I can and it is very helpful to know a little more about the situation.

In the future, what is the best way to acquire this information when I am reporting to various donating companies about the nonprofit info? Is there a preferred email address?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would like to add that the DRC is a valid rescue and not a fraud.  How do I know this?  I know it because I am one of their many volunteers.  I call about dogs, go to shelters to check on dogs, pick up dogs for the rescue from the shelter and even sometimes adopt them outright and relinquish them to the DRC. I pick dogs up for re-homing {yep Charlie is my re-homing failure! :-) }.  I transport dogs from shelters or former homes to fosters and  I have fostered.  I screen applications sent to me by another volunteer.  I check references, especially vet references.  I personally contact potential adopters and phone interview them - it's amazing what one learns when talking on the phone to someone. I visit homes.  I have been involved in meet and greets. 

I have also donated money when I have it.  For me, it is about rescuing dogs and saving their lives, but I understand that you have concerns.  I might also, if I wasn't out there doing 'stuff' for the DRC.  Money is the least of it, but oh so important to cover basic costs - shelter fees, vet check up, neutering/spaying, shots and often more extensive medical care. Whether you claim or receive a tax deduction for donating cash is a bonus, but shouldn't preclude one from helping any cause that you feel passionately about.  Humans need to help others - and I'll bet you do that, Stephanie, in so many ways and places and don't even think about what you have done as a donation, but think of it as helping out.

If you have any question about the validity of this rescue, PM me.  I'll say the same thing privately as publicly. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, what happened to your post? It was so well said! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

OMG!  I don't know?  IF it is on your e-mail page, feel free to cut and paste it back on.  I'm not sure I could repeat it.  Darn!  I saw an error on it and tried to fix it.  I guess it didn't re-save.